Overview & Reviews

For more than 100 years now, Ford Motor Company has been selling mass-produced automobiles in the United States and around the globe. Known as one of the Big Three American manufacturers, Ford has attracted millions of loyal customers with a wide range of vehicles that offer considerable value. The automaker's trucks and SUVs have been especially popular. For decades, Ford's F-Series truck has been the best-selling vehicle in America.

The company was founded by Henry Ford in 1903. Ford dreamed of building a car for the masses, and that's precisely what he did, most notably with the immortal Model T of 1908-'27. The latter was bought by 16.5 million Americans during its 20-year lifespan and was affordable enough for Ford's own factory workers to purchase. Ford's early years were also distinguished by its introduction of the moving assembly line. It was the first to utilize this more cost-effective method of production, and its innovation became a mainstay of the manufacturing process.

Ford expanded into the luxury-car market with its purchase of Lincoln Motor Company in 1925. Over the next few years, the company broadened its focus even further by creating the Mercury division to produce mid-priced cars. By the late '30s, Ford had unveiled the stylish Lincoln Zephyr, introduced a low-priced V8 engine and built more than 25 million vehicles.

The 1950s saw the introduction of the legendary Thunderbird. Offering sleek styling and spirited performance wedded to available luxury features like power windows and a signal-seeking radio, the car was a huge hit. Another model of that decade, the Edsel, met with a somewhat less enthusiastic reception. In the wake of abysmal sales, the Edsel was discontinued just a few months into its third model year.

Ford regained its footing in the early 1960s with the introduction of the compact Falcon, a model that was warmly received by the public. By the middle of the decade the automaker had given enthusiasts something to cheer about with the launch of the sporty Mustang, a car that went on to become one of the biggest sellers of its day. Buyers adored the Mustang's low price, available powerful V8 engines and sporty styling. The Mustang even created a brand-new vehicle category: the pony car.

By the 1970s, Ford, like other domestic automakers, was starting to suffer the effects of changing consumer tastes and new government regulations. Many of its cars became shadows of their former selves. But the seeds of rebirth were planted in this decade. In 1979, the company acquired a stake in Mazda; this move would later aid Ford significantly in co-development projects. The company also emerged with a new mindset of global competitiveness.

By the mid-to-late '80s, Ford was showing new strength with its popular Escort and Taurus models while further expanding its empire with the purchase of the Aston Martin and Jaguar brands. Meanwhile, its full-size LTD sedan (later renamed the Crown Victoria) remained a staple of taxi companies and police forces throughout America.

Ford rode a wave of popularity in the 1990s, thanks in part to the huge success of its Explorer midsize SUV. The truck played a huge role in ushering in the era of the SUV. In 1999, Ford expanded its family yet again with the purchase of Volvo's car division, and, in 2000, it acquired Land Rover. For awhile, there was talk of Ford even taking General Motors' spot as the No. 1 automaker in the world.

But the new millennium initially saw a downturn for Ford. Increased competition, a continuing operating loss for Jaguar, legacy costs and a reliance on SUVs for profit took their toll. To compensate, the company sold Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo and introduced a wave of successful new products. Models like the F-150, Fusion, Fiesta, Focus, Flex and Mustang have allowed Ford to regain its health and standing as a very competitive manufacturer.

User Reviews:

• 

  Great car for your money - 2006 Ford Five Hundred
  By MaryFrances - May 25 - 3:46 pm

  I LOVE THIS CAR. Smooth ride, great handling, no blind spots. Very sweet looking car. Soft leather seats are very comfortable and dont get cold like other leather seats do. Handles better in the snow than my old Explorer did. Radio controls on steering wheel are a pleasure. Remote start is the best - glad Ford is finally offering it. Having my own controls for heat and a/c are great - Im always cold and the hubby is always hot. Plenty of leg room for all - especially tall people. Can sit in the back seat and not have knees up to your chin. Can not believe the trunk space.

• 

  Made in USA? - 2002 Ford Focus
  By John or Juan - May 25 - 3:50 am

  I was recently at a local Ford dealer, who had a huge selection of Focus automobiles, and not one was "made in the USA" : all arrived...legally...from south of the border. That aside, the Focus appears to be very well built and a solid performer overall.

• 

  MY Beast - 1991 Ford F-150
  By 91F150GUY - May 24 - 7:21 pm

  This truck has been nothing but great to me and I have beaten it to death. I bought this truck intending to use it as a truck, so I have pushed it hard. My family is a Ford family and I know that they last a long time even when you push them hard. We have a 15 passenger van and I have a family of 14 and we have beaten that van since the day we bought it in 1994. It still runs well to this day with 180,000, with no major mechanical problems. My truck has 171,000 and is still running strong nothing has been rebuilt.

• 

  Surprisingly Happy with Purcahse - 2004 Ford Freestar
  By sjb - May 24 - 10:06 am

  I traded in a SUV for the Freestar and was very surprised how much I liked the Freestar. It has great functionality (a lot of storrage for your stuff), easy access in/out for the children, and it has a smooth & comfortable ride (4.2L good power). Its interior looks great. I wish I would have bought this vehicle much earlier.

• 

  AMAZING - 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid
  By Heyday - May 24 - 7:33 am

  I have driven the car close to 1400 miles so far and i am completely happy. The driving experience is second to none, the level of luxury in this car is amazing. I feel would run out of space if i try to name every thing i am excited about, But I do have to say congratulations to Ford for an amazing car.

• 

  Fab Freestar - 2005 Ford Freestar
  By Howard Groce - May 23 - 9:02 am

  We bought our Freestar in September 2004 and have really enjoyed it. Styling is outstanding and reliability is unquestionable. Fuel economy is less than I had expected.

• 

  love my car - 2005 Ford Focus
  By Barbara - May 23 - 2:06 am

  I have been driving my little wagon for six months now, and just love it. It is a breeze to park, has a huge cargo area, gets 30 mpg highway and 22 mpg city. I am so glad I didnt waste my money and buy something twice as expensive. If you just want a simple car to haul a small family around and run errands, this is great. I downsized from a Taurus wagon and it is like losing 20 pounds.

• 

  satisfaction - 2006 Ford Taurus
  By glenkail - May 22 - 1:55 pm

  The only thing I wish I could have had on my Taurus would be the keyless entry we have on our Mercury. Once in a while people get lucky we have two great cars and I like the design of the Taurus from every angle. I have a friend who has a Toyota and I pointed out to him the building differences -- doors that have hinges strong enough to close vaults and the feel of strength and quality in the interior. He agrees with me and says his next car will be a Ford. Incidentally -this is my fifth Ford. The only thing that was and is disappointing was the paint on the windows around the doors its deteriorated.

• 

  An excellent pick up truck - 1999 Ford F-150
  By Robert - May 22 - 11:46 am

  I have had NO problems with this vehicle. I moved from LA to then moved back to AL and coming back I towed another vehicle behind me. As you can imagine going through the Rocky Mountains towing a car behind me might seem difficult. But not this truck. It held its own and then some with the flow of traffic. No problems going UP mountains. A/C,P/W,P/L all still work fine. Killer Stereo. As you can tell I crazy in love with my F150 XLT Triton V8 truck!

• 

  Ford Expo owner - 1998 Ford Expedition
  By jennifer - May 22 - 3:35 am

  Vehicle is very well built and dependable, have enjoyed owning it for 4 years and make no plans on selling it.